Anthony Tritton was born on 4th March 1927 and educated at Eton. He joined the Army on the 6th January 1945 and was commissioned from the RAC OCTU in October of the same year, joining The 3rd Hussars in Palestine in January 1946.
He came back to the UK in April 1947 with ‘B’ Squadron which was part of a Parachute Brigade Group which had returned in advance of the rest of 6th Airborne Division. In January 1950 he was appointed ADC to the Commandant at Sandhurst in succession to Peter Cavendish.
At the end of 1951, his General took command of the 3rd Infantry Division in the Middle East and Anthony went with him. From 1955 until the beginning of 1958 he was an instructor at MONS Officer Cadet School.
In 1958 he was at the Staff College returning to the Regiment in Tidworth at the beginning of 1959 shortly after the amalgamation of The 3rd Hussars and The 7th Hussars when we were preparing for the presentation of the Guidon by the Colonel-in-Chief, the Queen Mother in the spring of that year.
It was the first major parade which the regiment had participated in and its great success was in no small measure due to his drive and organising ability of Anthony.
In May 1960 he was appointed GSO II with the British Joint Services mission in Washington, an appointment he held for two years. On his return to the UK in 1962 he as appointed Training Major of the Queen’s Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry.
At the end of 1964, much to his very great regret, he was forced to retire on the ground of ill health. This was a blow both to Anthony and the Regiment because it was always felt that in due course he would have succeeded to command, a role which he richly deserved and would have done so well.
He was regarded by all who knew him as a man of great integrity who demonstrated, by his own behaviour, how he expected those around him to behave. He was a strong character and when he was forced to retire the Regiment and the Army lost a dedicated professional.
In retirement he continued to display all the strengths and drive to farming and country pursuits as he had done as a soldier.
He became a much respected North West Tax Commissioner, serving as chairman for over 10 years. It was in this role that his excellent judge of character came to the fore.
There are many from both his military and his civilian life who will remember him with respect and affection.
Anthony died on 9 August 2012.
